CVE-2016-7297 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
The scripting engines in Microsoft Edge allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-7286, CVE-2016-7288, and CVE-2016-7296.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2022
The scripting engines in Microsoft Edge present a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the JavaScript and JScript engines that process web scripts within the Edge browser environment, creating a significant security risk for users who encounter compromised websites. The flaw represents a distinct issue from other related vulnerabilities in the same vulnerability family, emphasizing its unique characteristics and attack surface.
This memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within the scripting engine components of Microsoft Edge. When processing specially crafted web content, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries during script execution, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability manifests when the browser encounters malformed script code that triggers unexpected memory behavior, allowing attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute malicious instructions. The technical implementation involves the interaction between the JavaScript engine's memory management routines and the JScript engine's object handling mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to leverage memory corruption to gain unauthorized system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential system compromise and denial of service scenarios. Attackers can craft web pages that, when loaded in Microsoft Edge, trigger memory corruption conditions that may result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user. This capability enables attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability affects all supported versions of Microsoft Edge and presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users regularly access the internet and encounter potentially malicious web content. Organizations may experience service disruption through denial of service conditions, where legitimate browser functionality becomes impaired due to memory corruption errors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches that address the specific memory handling flaws in the scripting engines. System administrators should implement comprehensive browser hardening measures including restricting access to untrusted websites, enabling security features such as sandboxing and protected mode, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-121 and CWE-125 related to buffer overflow conditions, and may be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving initial access through malicious websites and execution via compromised browser components. Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures should be enhanced to detect and respond to exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.